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Usable Data (usable + data)
Selected AbstractsUNDERSTANDING SELF-OTHER AGREEMENT: A LOOK AT RATER AND RATEE CHARACTERISTICS, CONTEXT, AND OUTCOMESPERSONNEL PSYCHOLOGY, Issue 2 2004CHERI OSTROFF This study investigated (a) the relative importance of a number of biographic (e.g., age, race, gender) and contextual (e.g., span of control, functional area) variables and their interactions on self-other agreement and (b) the relationship between self-other agreement and outcome variables such as performance and compensation. Usable data were collected from 3,217 managers and their multi-source raters in 527 organizations. Multivariate regression procedures (as opposed to categorization procedures) were used to determine the sources of rating disagreement. Results indicated that a significant portion of variance in self-other ratings was accounted for by the set of background/context variables. Self-other agreement was also related to performance, compensation, and organizational level, though rating patterns differed. [source] Stopping smoking can cause constipationADDICTION, Issue 11 2003Peter Hajek ABSTRACT Setting Constipation is mentioned occasionally as a possible tobacco withdrawal symptom, but no systematic data have been published on this issue. Design Smokers' clinic patients provided ratings of their level of constipation on three occasions prior to their quit date, and then weekly after they stopped smoking. The total of 1067 participants maintained at least 1 week of continuous abstinence and provided usable data. Findings The three precessation ratings of constipation were stable. After cessation of smoking, the ratings increased significantly (P < 0.01). In 514 patients who maintained continuous abstinence for 4 weeks and provided complete data, constipation peaked at 2 weeks but remained elevated over the whole period. The net proportion of patients affected was 17%, including 9% who were symptom-free at baseline and became very or extremely constipated. In patients on nicotine replacement the increase in constipation, although significant, was less than in patients on bupropion. Conclusions Clinicians treating smokers need to be aware of a possibility that one in six quitters develop constipation, and that for about one in 11 the problem can be severe. Descriptions of tobacco withdrawal syndrome should include constipation. [source] Excessive, optimal, and insufficient fundraising among the Nonprofit Times 100INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF NONPROFIT & VOLUNTARY SECTOR MARKETING, Issue 2 2006Fred A. Jacobs Using a six-factor model of donations, we estimate the effect on net donations; i.e., donations less fundraising expenditures, of a one percent marginal increase in fundraising expenditures, for each sample nonprofit organization (NPO) from the Nonprofit Times 100 from 2000 to 2002. No prior study of U.S. NPOs estimates the effect of fundraising expense on net donations. We then use these estimates and what we argue is the correct benchmark, the ratio of fundraising expense to donations, to provide evidence, for each NPO, on whether the NPO's level of fundraising is ,excessive,' ,optimal,' or ,insufficient,' relative to the level that maximizes net donations. All prior studies using log-log models use what we suggest is an incorrect benchmark for evaluating NPO fundraising behavior. The estimated effect of a 1% increase in fundraising on net donations varies widely across NPOs in our sample,from an increase in net donations of 0.18% of gross donations to a decrease of 0.66% of gross donations. Of the 76 Nonprofit Times 100 NPOs with usable data in 2002, we estimate that 24 engaged in ,excessive' fundraising, 18 engaged in ,insufficient' fundraising, and 34 did not engage in ,excessive' or ,insufficient' fundraising; i.e., we could not reject the null hypothesis of ,optimal' levels of fundraising. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Sometimes Higher Heart Rate Variability Is Not Better Heart Rate Variability: Results of Graphical and Nonlinear AnalysesJOURNAL OF CARDIOVASCULAR ELECTROPHYSIOLOGY, Issue 9 2005PHYLLIS K. STEIN Ph.D. Objective: To determine the prevalence and effect on traditional heart rate variability (HRV) indices of abnormal HRV patterns in the elderly. Methods: Hourly Poincaré plots and plots of spectral HRV from normal-to-normal interbeat intervals and hourly nonlinear HRV values were examined in a subset of 290 consecutive participants in the Cardiovascular Health Study. Only subjects in normal sinus rhythm with ,18 hours of usable data were included. Eligible subjects were 71 ± 5 years. During 7 years of follow-up, 21.7% had died. Hours were scored as normal (0), borderline (0.5), or abnormal (1) from a combination of plot appearance and HRV. Summed scores were normalized to 100% to create an abnormality score (ABN). Short-term HRV versus each 5th percentile of ABN was plotted and a cutpoint for markedly increased HRV identified. The t -tests compared HRV for subjects above and below this cutpoint. Cox regression evaluated the association of ABN and mortality. Results: Of 5,815 eligible hourly plots, 64.4% were normal, 14.5% borderline, and 21.1% abnormal. HR, SDNN, SDNNIDX, ln VLF and LF power, and power law slope did not differ by the cutpoint for increased short-term HRV, while SDANN and ln ULF power were significantly lower for those above the cutpoint. However, many HRV indices including LF/HF ratio and normalized LF and HF power were significantly different between groups (P < 0.001). Increased ABN was significantly associated with mortality (P = 0.019). Despite similar values for many HRV indices, being in the group above the cutpoint was significantly associated with mortality (P = 0.04). Conclusions: Abnormal HR patterns that elevate many HRV indices are prevalent among the elderly and associated with higher risk of mortality. Consideration of abnormal HRV may improve HRV-based risk stratification. [source] Agreement between GPRD smoking data: a survey of general practitioners and a population-based survey,PHARMACOEPIDEMIOLOGY AND DRUG SAFETY, Issue 7 2004James D. Lewis MD, MSCE Abstract Background Cigarette smoking is a common habit that is associated with many diseases. Smoking is often an important confounding variable in pharmacoepidemiological studies. The General Practice Research Database (GPRD) is widely used in pharmacoepidemiological research. In this study, we compare data recorded in the GPRD with the smoking history obtained from direct query of general practitioners (GPs) and from a population-based survey. Methods We completed a mailed survey of GPs caring for a random sample of 150 patients with inflammatory bowel disease. The survey asked the GP to categorize the patients smoking status on a specified date. These results were then compared to the data recorded in the GPRD. Smoking status of 225,308 randomly selected GPRD patients without inflammatory bowel disease was compared to the results of a population-based household survey. Results Completed surveys with usable data were received from GPs on 136 of the 150 patients (91%). The sensitivity and positive predictive value of the database for current smoking were 78% (95%,CI: 52,94) and 70% (95%,CI: 46,88) respectively. The sensitivity and positive predictive value of former smoking were 53% (95%,CI: 28,77) and 60% (95%,CI: 32,84) respectively. Current and former smoking rates in the GPRD were 79% and 29% respectively of expected rates according to the population-based survey . Conclusions Current smoking is more completely recorded in the GPRD than former smoking. These data need to be considered when planning GPRD studies where smoking is an important exposure variable. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Quantifizierung der Schäden infolge Hochwassereinwirkung: Fallstudie EilenburgBAUTECHNIK, Issue 12 2005Jochen Schwarz Dr.-Ing. Die für das Katastrophenmanagement notwendige Abschätzung der Schäden unter Hochwassereinwirkung ist eine entscheidende, aber bislang methodisch-wissenschaftlich noch unzureichend vorbereitete Aufgabenstellung. In Anlehnung an die für die Risikoanalyse Erdbeben entwickelte Vorgehensweise wird überprüft, inwieweit methodische Grundlagen übernommen werden können bzw. modifiziert werden müssen, und welche Kenngrößen aus Datenerhebungen abzuleiten sind. Dabei wird neben der Hochwassereinwirkung in Form der Überflutungshöhe als wesentliche Neuerung der Einfluß der Bauwerksparameter berücksichtigt. Die Bauweisen sind danach in Verletzbarkeitsklassen einzuordnen, denen einwirkungsabhängig charakteristische strukturelle Schäden bzw. Durchfeuchtungsgrade zugewiesen werden können, die letztlich auch die Höhe des Schadens (Kosten) bestimmen. Wie anhand der Fallstudie Eilenburg gezeigt werden kann, können mit dem gewählte Ansatz für ein vorgegebenes Szenarium Gebiete mit besonders verletzbarer Bauwerksstruktur identifiziert und Empfehlungen für künftige Bebauung abgeleitet werden. Ein Schlüsselelement in der Vorgehensweise liegt in der Aufbereitung der erforderlichen bzw. geeigneten Datenebenen, die über Schadensfunktionen zu verknüpfen sind. Der Beitrag gibt eine Übersicht zu den Vorgehensweisen im mesoskaligen und mikroskaligen Betrachtungsmaßstab. Wie am Beispiel der Stadt Eilenburg gezeigt wird, können mit den bereitgestellten ingenieurmäßigen Hilfsmitteln und Datenebenen die aufgetretenen Schäden durch das Hochwasser 2002 in ihrer Höhe und Verteilung reinterpretiert werden. Assessment of damage due to flood impact: the case study of Eilenburg. Estimating damage caused by flood impact is an important, yet scientifically and methodically insufficiently investigated task, which is necessary for preparing the management of catastrophes. Alluding to the procedure developed in the risk analysis of earthquakes it is checked, whether methodical fundamentals can be transferred or have to be modified, and which parameters must be derived from data surveys. As an essential improvement, in addition to the inundation level, the influence of the buildings' parameters are considered. Subsequently, the building types are sorted into vulnerability classes, to which characteristic structural damages, depending on the impact, or humidity penetration ratios can be assigned, which ultimately determine the extent of the damage and the resulting cost. As can be shown for the case study of Eilenburg, areas with unusually high vulnerability of the building stock can be identified by applying the chosen approach assuming a defined scenario, leading to recommendations for future decisions on building in the area. A key element of the procedure lies in the preparation of the required or, respectively, usable data, which must be linked by damage functions. The paper gives an overview of the approaches for observations on mesoscale and microscale. As can be shown on the example of the town Eilenburg, with the provided tools and data, the damages caused by the flood in August 2002 can be reinterpreted regarding their height and distribution. [source] Productivity and Career Paths of Previous Recipients of Society for Academic Emergency Medicine Research Grant AwardsACADEMIC EMERGENCY MEDICINE, Issue 6 2008Kelly D. Young MD Abstract Objectives:, The objective was to assess productivity of previous recipients of Society for Academic Emergency Medicine (SAEM) grant awards. Methods:, All previous recipients of SAEM Research Training Grants, Neuroscience Research Awards, Scholarly Sabbatical Awards, and Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Research Fellowship awards funded through 2004 were identified through SAEM's records and surveyed. Award categories assessed were those still offered by SAEM at the time of the survey and therefore excluded the Geriatric Research Award. The 2005,2006 SAEM Grants Committee developed a survey using previous publications assessing productivity of training grants and fellowship awards and refined it through consensus review and limited pilot testing. We assessed measures of academic productivity (numbers of publications and additional grants awarded), commitment to an academic career, satisfaction with the SAEM award, and basic demographic information. Results:, Overall response rate was 70%; usable data were returned by all seven Research Training Grant awardees, both Neuroscience awardees, four of five Scholarly Sabbatical awardees, and six of 14 EMS Research Fellowship awardees. Of those who gave demographic information, 78% (14/18) were male and 94% (16/17) were non-Hispanic white. All the respondents remained in academics, and 14 of 19 felt that they will definitely be in academics 5 years from the time of the survey. They have a median of 1.8 original research publications per year since the end of their grant period, and 74% (14/19) have received subsequent federal funding. All found the SAEM award to be helpful or very helpful to their careers. Conclusions:, Previous recipients of the SAEM grant awards show evidence of academic productivity in the form of subsequent grant funding and research publications, and the majority remain committed to and satisfied with their academic research careers. [source] | ||||||||||